Photography by Manolo Yllera, courtesy of Serge Castella Interiors.
Lately we’ve been admiring the work of France-born, Spain-based designer and collector Serge Castella, whose ingenious natural-fiber-mat-as-headboard we featured back in 2015 (see Design Idea to Steal: A DIY Headboard from a Natural-Fiber Rug).
As it turns out, the work of Castella and partner, Vermont-born Jason Flinn, is full of such unexpected and textural design moments: Their spaces are eclectic, gallery-like, and sculptural, with wooden tables and chairs, bits of architectural salvage, and layers of texture, both vintage and custom.
The sculptural main room of the guest house, loosely divided by built-in shelves that extend from the walls.
To do it, Castella added a wing to serve as an extra bedroom (carefully matched to the existing structure), designed an interior layout, and “placed the windows, walls, and doors (using, in some cases, antique elements that we sourced for the project),” the duo says.
Castella and Flinn also wanted the young couple’s guests to feel “autonomous and at home on the Mediterranean sea.” A crucial element: adding a kitchen.
On one end of the room, an example of Castella’s eclectic style: a built-in bench serves as both lounge space (with cushions upholstered in vintage floral fabric, found in Hawaii) and log storage for the nearby fireplace.
The duo chose natural fibers in various forms and textures throughout the space.
Beneath a sloped ceiling, twin beds are laid on built-in stone platforms and a shelf behind serves as both desk and headboard.
The furniture and sculptural finds throughout the project are all from Castella’s own collection (on view and available at the firm’s new showroom in Emporda, Spain, where the duo has a ranch with horses and Labradors, and online).
Beds are made simply, with light blankets and tasseled pillows.
Back out in the main room, looking away from the twin bedroom, toward the bath.
The bathroom is lit by a black wall light, similar to the one over the kitchen.
In another bedroom, sculptural built-in nightstands with black-painted niches flank the bed. The rattan headboard is Castella’s original design, inspired by straw rugs and handmade by craftsmen in Spain.
The lush exterior of the stables turned guest house.
We’ve had our eye on Spain of late.